Folding portable canopy frame



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,242

s. J- SAVA FOLDING PORTABLE CANOPY FRAME Filed Dec. '7. 19??) ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

SALVATOR J. SAVA, OI PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK.

FOLDING PORTABLE CANOPY FRAME.

Application med December 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,671.

This invention relates to canopy supports,

I and particularly to a portable support for and has for'an object toprovide an improved construction of a support for this purpose whichwill involve a very small number of parts, which may be folded into asmall space and which may be easily and quickly set up or collapsed.

lVith the foregoing and other objects 1n view I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification, similar reference characters being employedthroughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elementsthereof. In this drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my mprovedframe set up, and showing a portion of the canopy mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view showing the first step in the process ofcollapsing the frame.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the next ste Fig. 4 is a similar viewshowing the final step of collapsing the frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail of one means of detachably connecting the archedcanopy supports.

Fig. 6 is a plan view and longitudinal section through the connectionsof the sections of the end members.

Fig. 7 is a side and edge elevation of the connection of the sections ofthe side members of the frame. A

Fig. 8 is a side and end elevation of the connection between the sideand end members, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing slightly different means forholding the arched supports in adjusting position.

The frame comprises side members made in two sections 10. These sectionsare preferably rectangular strips of metal and have their adjacent ends11 bent laterally in the plane of the members and connected by the pivot12. This lateral bend offsets the pivot somewhat and allows the sectionsof the side members to be folded into substantially parallel relation.At their free ends the side sections are bent laterally from the planeof. the section and then twisted through an angle of about 90 to providelaterally extending ears 13 in a plane at right angles to the plane ofthe side sections to which the sections 14 of the end members arepivoted bymeans of pivots 15. The adjacent ends of these end sectionsare pivoted together as shown at 16, Fig. 6, and one of the sections hasan extended end 17 adapted to overlap the other member and provided witha recess, 18 into which a projection 19 struck up from the other membermay project. The resilient action of the extended end 17 cooperates withthis lug and recess to provide a spring catch holding the sections inalignment when the frame is set up or expanded, but allows folding ofthese sections about this pivot in the operation of collapsing theframe, without the necessity of loosening any connections.

.The canopy, indicated as a netting 20, is supported by arch supports21. These supports also comprise two sections, each pivoted at theirlower ends to the side.,members 10 as shown at 22. These members aremade of fiat flexible resilient metal which tends to lie straight, asindicated in dotted lines Fig. 1, and therefore, they can be foldedparallel with the side members 10. The free ends, however, can bebrought together in arched relation due to the flexibility of thesemembers, as indicated in full lines Fig. 1, and the free ends aredetachably connected together. A convenient and simple form ofconnecting means comprises a flat tube 23 permanently secured to one ofthe members 21., as by rivets 24 and it may be attached to thecomplementary arched section by merely inserting the free end 25 thereofinto the other end of this tubular member, as shown in Fig. 5.

The operation of collapsing and expanding the frame is illustrated inFigs. 2, 3 and 4.. Assuming the frame is set up, as indicated in Fig. 1,the canopy is first removed and then the ends of the arched supports 21are separated, allowing the supports to move to the dotted line positionof Fig. 1 under the resilient action of these members. They are thenfolded about their pivots 22 to positions parallel with side members 10of the frame, the movement being indicated at Figs.'2 and 3. The endmembers 14 are then folded inwardly as indicated at Fig. 2, bringing theside members 10 together, as indicated at Fig. 3. All of the members onopposite sides of the central pivots 12 are then folded about thesepivots onto the members on the other side of these pivots, as indicated.in Fig. 4. The frame is now completely folded, and as the members aresubstantially all parallel to each other they are folded. into a verysmall space. It

tion shown in Fig. 3, the end sections 14:.

are then brought into alignment separating the side sections 10, thearchsupports 21 are then turned to their vertical positions and their freeends secured together. These supports may be clamped in the uprightposition by means of wing nuts on the pivots 22. The frame is now set upready to receive the canopy.

Instead of the Wing nuts the canopy suports may be held in the uprightpositions y the devices shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9 a depression26 is formed in the side member 10 and a projection 27 is pressed fromthe support 21 so located as to engage the top of the side member tohold the support elevated and to project into the depression 26 when thesupport is folded on the side member.

In Fig. 10 a notch 28 is formed in the upper outer edge of the sidemember 10 of substantially the width of the support 21 so that when thesupport is bent to the arched osition it will move into the notch 28 andbe locked inthe upright position by the shoulders at the ends of thenotch.

It will be apparent that the construction of the frame is very simpleand that it is easily and quickly set up and collapsed, and that it maybe folded into a very small space.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. In a canopy frame, side members, end members comprising sectionspivoted to the side members and to each other so that they may be foldedon each other and the side members, and flexible resilient canopysuports pivoted to the side members and tendlng to straighten out so asto be folded against said side members and arranged in pairs on theopposite side members, and

2. In a canopy frame, side members comprising sections pivoted togetherso as to fold in substantially parallel relation, end members comprisingsections pivoted to each other and the free ends of the side members soas to be folded on each other and the side members, and flexible canopysupports pivoted to the side members so as to be folded thereon, saidsupports being opposed to each other in mils and normally straight, andmeans for etachably securing the free ends of the supports together inarched relation.

3. In a canopy frame, side members comprising sections of rectangularstrips of metal with their adjacent ends bent laterally in the plane ofthe strip and hinged together, the free ends of the side members beingbent laterally from the plane of the members and then twisted to lie ina plane at right angles to the plane of the members to form ears, endmembers comprising sections pivoted together and to said ears, canopysupports pivoted to the side members and comprising flexible resilientmembers arranged in pairs, and means for detachably securing thesupports together in arched relation.

4. In a canopy frame, side members each comprising a pair of' sectionspivoted towardly toward each other to bring the side v members togetherin parallel relation and the sections of the side members being thenfoldable together, and means for detachably securing the canopy supportstogether in arched relation.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

SALVATOR J. SAVA.

